Quilted Oven or Grilling Mitts

Handmade Quilted Oven or Grilling Mitts

I just recently decided to try making some potholders and mitts for the kitchen. These are my mitts.

I found some interesting cotton fabric. I layered the fabric with Insul-Bright, batting, and a solid colored cotton fabric. I quilted the mitt halves and then machine stitched and serged the 2 halves together. I added a binding to the cuff and a hanging hook. I could have gotten the thumb area a little more flat, but serging it makes it stronger and harder to turn.

~Sarah

My Favorite!

Upcycled Denim Blue Jeans Carry Sack - Tote - Purse

 Carry Sack - Tote - Purse made from Upcycled Denim Blue Jeans

These bags were made from the legs of a pair of Ashlin's blue jeans. She always seems to rip them in the thighs. She's still wearing the top part as shorts...but I have plans for them when she's done.

They have a rectangular bottom. Each bag has a liner and handles made from coordinating fabric. The bag stands 9 to 9 1/2 inches tall. The bottom measures approximately 5" x 4".

These bags easily hold 4 of my reading books, various sewing supplies, or a multitude of items. It would easily hold a skein of yarn and some knitting needles or crochet hooks. This is a perfect bag for on the go. I'm debating making a pattern that would turn them into insulated lunch totes.

~Sarah

Two New Dresses for Sally

My mother asked found a "NewLook" pattern she liked and asked me to make her a couple dresses. We went and found enough fabric to make two A-line dresses; one black textured fabric and one brown shiny lined rayon fabric. (4 Yards of Fabric for each.) We measured her and I cut out the pattern. She wanted the waist line 2 inches longer as she is 5'10" and needs the added length in the waist, so I folded the fabric 2 inches wherever the pattern showed the waist. I cut out the 6 dress panels and 6 neck and arm lining sections. The pattern called for a 5/8 seam allowance. I cut the fusible interfacing and ironed the neck and arm pieces.

I started stitching the black dress first. After getting the 6 main panels together with the tie, I had my mother come and  try it on...WAY to Tight. So...The pattern runs small. Since I had already cut out the brown fabric, I stitched the 6 panels together using a very narrow serged edge seam. After trying this on...It fit perfectly.

Now....What to do with the black? I couldn't take out the seams as I had already trimmed the darts in the breast and back and the black fabric kind of hid the thread. So....I cut two 2.75 inch width panels to stitch into the side seams I cut away. I stitched them in the gap I had opened. I cut a a matching piece with interfacing to insert under each arm for the lining. I had my mother try it on again!!! Yay!!! It worked.

I did need to narrow the stitching for the darts in the brown dress to compensate for the narrower seams in order to attach the lining for the sleeves. My mother had me cut 8-9 inches off the bottom to make the dress fall just below the knee. I stitched a basting stitch around the bottom of the skirt and folding it up and hemmed the dress by hand to make it lay flat. Over all, I think my mother was pleased with her 2 nice new dresses.

Costs: about $20-25 per dress for fabric as the fabric was on sale. $3 for the thread. (I already had the interfacing.)

~Sarah
P.S....I think the jacket will be a project this spring.

Vintage "Seashell and Sea Horse" Baby Crib Quilt and Wall Hanging

Vintage - Newly Finished - Never Used - 2 Piece
"Seashell and Sea Horse" Baby Crib Quilt and Wall Hanging
Peach and Green Color Scheme

Recently, I attended an auction and bought a box full of vintage sewing linens and items. This quilt was a partially finished project within this find. All the pieces were there and it was partially completed.

This one of a kind quilt is rough edged appliqued with sea horses and seashells. It has alternating blocks designed with what I gather to be a courtroom stepped log cabin style. I machine quilted this quilt and bound it with the backing fabric.

This quilt was created entirely with vintage fabric and batting. The colors are all peach and green. The back and binding is a peach with white polka dots.

This quilt measures: 471/2 inches tall by 36 inches wide. Perfect for a crib.

Along with the quilt was a partially made wall hanging panel. It has a single seashell on it and was finished in the same manner as the quilt. This wall hanging measures 17 x 17 inches square.


This is the way I found the quilt. In a box already pinned and ready to quilt! Sooooooo..... many pins!

 

A Few Small Stains that washed out. YAY!
I was hoping all my work wouldn't be in vain.

I quilted it by stitching 3 squares in the blocks and stitching around the appliques.

Quilted and ready to bind. The back was long enough to fold over and use as the binding, so I trimmed it and trimmed the batting. Folded over the backing and machine embroidered the binding.

 Wall Hanging: